| ISO 4217 | |
|---|---|
| Code | KYD (numeric: 136) |
| Subunit | 0.01 |
| Unit | |
| Symbol | $ |
| Denominations | |
| Subunit | |
| 1⁄100 | cent |
| Banknotes | |
| Freq. used | $1, $5, $10, $25, $50, $100 |
| Rarely used | $40, $70 (commemorative) |
| Coins | |
| Freq. used | 1, 5, 10, 25 cents |
| Demographics | |
| Date of introduction | 1972 |
| User(s) |  Cayman Islands (UK) |
| Issuance | |
| Central bank | Cayman Islands Monetary Authority |
| Website | www |
| Valuation | |
| Inflation | -0.1% |
| Source | March 2009[1] |
| Pegged with | CI$1.00=US$1.20 |
TheCayman Islands Dollar (currency codeKYD) is thecurrency of theCayman Islands. It is abbreviated with thedollar sign$, or alternativelyCI$ to distinguish it from otherdollar-denominated currencies. It is subdivided into 100cents.
The Cayman Islands dollar was introduced in 1972 (10 years after separation from theColony of Jamaica), replacing theJamaican dollar at par. Jamaican currency and Cayman Islands dollars both remained legal tender until 31 August 1972,[2][3] when Jamaican currency ceased to be legal tender. The Cayman Islands dollar has beenpegged to theUnited States dollar at 1 Cayman Islands dollar = 1.2 U.S. dollars since 1 April 1974, when the Currency Law of 1974 was enacted.[2] In 1983, the 1974 law was repealed and replaced by the Currency Law Revised, which itself was replaced in 1997 by section 22 of the Monetary Authority Law.[4] Under section 22 of the 2013 revision of the Monetary Authority Law, the value of the Cayman dollar in United States Dollars is determined by the Governor.[5] In February 2023, it was reported that the Monetary Authority was seeking public input for a new set of coin and banknote designs, which will featureKing Charles III. Following the completion of this process, the Monetary Authority will authorise production of the new designs, then gradually phase them into circulation.[6]
In 1972, coins in denominations of 1¢, 5¢, 10¢ and 25¢ were introduced. The 1¢ was struck inbronze, with the other denominations incupronickel. From 1992, copper and nickel-plated steel replaced bronze and cupronickel, respectively.
| Coins of the Cayman Islands dollar | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image | Value | Technical parameters | Description | Date of first minting | |||||
| Diameter | Thickness | Mass | Composition | Edge | Obverse | Reverse | |||
| 1 cent | 17 mm | 1.72 mm | 2.55 g | Copper-plated steel | Smooth | Queen Elizabeth II | Grand Cayman thrush | 1999 | |
| 5 cents | 18 mm | 1.1 mm | 2 g | Nickel-plated steel | Smooth | Queen Elizabeth II | Caymancrawfish | 1999 | |
| 10 cents | 21 mm | 1.46 mm | 3.45 g | Nickel-plated steel | Smooth | Queen Elizabeth II | Green sea turtle | 1999 | |
| 25 cents | 24.26 mm | 1.61 mm | 5.1 g | Nickel-plated steel | Smooth | Queen Elizabeth II | Schooner "Kirk B" | 1999 | |
On 1 May 1972,[7] the Cayman Islands Currency Board introduced notes in denominations of 1, 5, 10 and 25 dollars. 40 dollar notes were introduced in 1981 but were taken out of circulation a few years later, followed by 100 dollars in 1982 and 50 dollars in 1987. On 1 January 1997, the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (CIMA) took over issuance of paper money, issuing notes for 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 and 100 dollars. The current series of notes was issued on 4 April 2011.[8]
The CIMA issued notes of 70 dollars in 2023 to commemorate the anniversary of thedeath of Elizabeth II and thePlatinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II.[9]
| Obverse | Reverse | Value | Dimensions | Main Color | Description | Date of issue | Date of first issue | Watermark | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obverse | Reverse | ||||||||
| $1 | 156 x 66 mm | Blue | Angel fish; map of the Cayman Islands;Coat of arms of the Cayman Islands;Queen Elizabeth II | Nautilus shell; The Bluff on Cayman Brac | 2010 | April 4, 2011 | Turtle; electrotype "CIMA"; Cornerstones | ||
| $5 | 156 x 66 mm | Green | Hawksbill turtles; map of the Cayman Islands; Coat of arms of the Cayman Islands; Queen Elizabeth II | Conch shell; Caymanparrots | 2010 | April 4, 2011 | Turtle; electrotype "CIMA"; Cornerstones | ||
| $10 | 156 x 66 mm | Pink | Landcrabs; map of the Cayman Islands; Coat of arms of the Cayman Islands; Queen Elizabeth II | Shell; wildbanana orchid | 2010 | April 4, 2011 | Turtle; electrotype "CIMA"; Cornerstones | ||
| $25 | 156 x 66 mm | Brown | Scallop shells; map of the Cayman Islands; Coat of arms of the Cayman Islands; Queen Elizabeth II | Scallop shell; Hawksbill turtle; fish; coral | 2010 | April 4, 2011 | Turtle; electrotype "CIMA"; Cornerstones | ||
| $50 | 156 x 66 mm | Purple | Stingrays; map of the Cayman Islands; Coat of arms of the Cayman Islands; Queen Elizabeth II | Shell; stingray | 2010 | April 4, 2011 | Turtle; electrotype "CIMA"; Cornerstones | ||
| $100 | 156 x 66 mm | Red | CaymanSchooner boats; map of the Cayman Islands; Coat of arms of the Cayman Islands; Queen Elizabeth II | Conch shell; Aerial view of the Financial Center in George Town | 2010 | April 4, 2011 | Turtle; electrotype "CIMA"; Cornerstones | ||
| Current KYD exchange rates | |
|---|---|
| FromGoogle Finance: | AUDCADCHFCNYEURGBPHKDJPYUSDEURJPY |
| FromYahoo! Finance: | AUDCADCHFCNYEURGBPHKDJPYUSDEURJPY |
| FromXE.com: | AUDCADCHFCNYEURGBPHKDJPYUSDEURJPY |
| From OANDA: | AUDCADCHFCNYEURGBPHKDJPYUSDEURJPY |
On the islands, the US dollar is accepted as legal currency by hotels, restaurants, and retail establishments at the rate of 1 US Dollar for every 80 Cayman cents.[11] Change is usually given in Cayman Island dollars.[12]
Banks buy US Dollars at 82 Cayman Island cents each and sell 1.20 US dollars per Cayman Island dollar.[4][11] As of 2014[update], the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority uses a retail exchange rate of CI$1.00 = US$1.227.[13]
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The Cayman Islands dollar is an offshoot of theJamaican dollar, which is essentially a halfpound sterling.Jamaica followed the pattern ofSouth Africa,Australia, andNew Zealand in using the half-pound unit as opposed to the pound as the unit of account when it adopted the decimal system. The choice of the name "dollar" was motivated[citation needed] by the fact that the reduced value of the new unit corresponded more closely to the value of theUS dollar than it did to thepound sterling.
